Jalen Sundell was a long shot to make the Seattle Seahawks' roster. After going unselected in the 2024 NFL draft, the FCS All-American was not immediately snapped up as a priority undrafted free agent. Seattle did sign a couple of UDFA offensive linemen right after the draft, but Sundell was not one of them.
They grabbed Garrett Greenfield, a tackle from Sundell’s college rival, South Dakota State. Sundell, as all Hawks’ fans know by now, was a tackle at North Dakota State, on the same line as his current Seahawks’ teammate Grey Zabel.
The other UDFA linemen signed early by John Schneider were Mike Novitsky, a center from Kansas. To the best of my knowledge, neither Greenfield nor Novitsky is on an NFL roster at this point. Sundell is starting for a team being touted as a Super Bowl contender.
That’s pretty good value from a UDFA – especially one that appears to have been something of an afterthought.
Jalen Sundell keeps getting better in the middle of the Seattle Seahawks offensive line
Schneider didn’t sign Sundell until late July, almost three months after most of the rookies had begun offseason practice. It didn’t matter. Sundell was ready.
If Schneider was indeed looking for both a center and a tackle, Sundell provided both in one package. He had been a standout center at North Dakota State but shifted to left tackle during his senior year out of necessity. (Zabel followed a similar trajectory one year later.)
Most scouts agreed that Sundell’s best position was center, but his positional versatility certainly benefited him. In Seattle, he immediately inserted himself into the race to be the starting center.
The Hawks already had second-year Michigan alum Olu Oluwatimi penciled in to take over from Evan Brown, but during preseason games, it was clear that Sundell was not overwhelmed by the pro game. He moved well. He could stand up to interior linemen. He looked like he belonged.
John Schneider may not have been ready to trust either of his young centers with the starting job immediately, so when he had the chance to sign a veteran, he pounced on Connor Williams. Williams was a proven commodity, but was also returning from a serious injury suffered later in the 2023 season.
Williams arrived less than two weeks after Sundell, and it became clear that once fully healthy, he would have the starting job.
At that point, Sundell went from fighting for a starting spot to fighting for a roster spot. Teams rarely keep a third center. However, his versatility as a talent forced Schneider to keep him on the roster even though Oluwatimi was the choice to back up Williams.
He played in 12 games for Seattle as a rookie, almost entirely on special teams. But when he got a chance to take some snaps at center late in the season, he showed the same ability that earned him a roster spot. Sundell showed he belonged.
Oluwatimi had recurring back problems throughout training camp this year, which turned the presumed competition at center into a walkover. Sundell slid in next to former NDS teammate Zabel, and the Seahawks’ line, which had been the team’s greatest liability in 2024, began performing at a much higher level.
Having a healthy Abraham Lucas at right tackle has been crucial. Charles Cross remains a plus left tackle, while Anthony Bradford continues to be iffy at right guard. The two college teammates – Sundell and Zabel – look to be set at center and left guard for years to come.
The transition to the NFL has not been perfect. Both young players have made mistakes. No one is worried about Zabel, a first-round draft pick with an exceptional blend of strength and technique. He simply needs some experience before becoming a potential Pro Bowl guard.
With Sundell, questions will linger. That’s how it goes for UDFAs early in their careers. That’s why it was nice to see his performance against Houston this past Monday night.
The Texans have a highly respected defense. Interior linemen Sheldon Rankins and Tim Settle, and edge rushers Will Anderson, Jr., and Danielle Hunter are all rated in the top 20 at their respective positions. The Texans will always pose a challenge for an offensive line.
According to Pro Football Focus grades (subscription required), Sundell had his best game of the season against Houston. His overall grade of 79 is borderline elite and trailed only Lucas amongst Seattle’s offensive linemen. He scored very well on both pass plays and running plays.
Prior to Monday, Sundell had generally been seen as the offensive line’s second weakest link after Bradford. He had committed four penalties through six games. He had not looked smooth in pass protection at times.
Still, there was one fact that suggested he was doing a pretty good job, PFF grades notwithstanding. His quarterback, Sam Darnold, was also playing at a high level. NFL QBs rarely play well if they don't have a competent center in front of them. Check the history books.
Oddly, Sundell's previous best game had come in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers and their elite defensive line featuring Cameron Heyward, T.J. Watt, and Nick Herbig. Maybe he needs the best competition to crank his game up to its maximum level. If so, that’s something to work on.
But it is nice to know that when it is required, Jalen Sundell can compete with the best the NFL has to offer. In less than a year and a half, he has gone from undrafted free agent afterthought to legitimate starter in the middle of a quality team’s offensive line. And he is getting better.